Cats' Goals Oust Brave Dubs

Leinster SHC Final
Kilkenny 2-18 Dublin 0-18

By Denis O'Brien

Kilkenny won their ninth Leinster Hurling title in ten years at Croke Park last Sunday but they were pushed all the way by a determined Dublin side who hurled well, however, a brace of goals conceded at critical moments brought their downfall.

Even though Kilkenny were never behind in this intense Leinster Final clash, the favorites certainly did not have it all their own way as a persistent Dublin kept the Cats honest throughout.

However, a pair of Martin Comerford goals in each half would prove Dublin's undoing and even though they kept pressing until the final whistle, they never looked like overturning the six-point deficit.

Dublin's game plan of employing Shane Durkin as a seventh defender worked well for manager Anthony Daly as it made it difficult for the Cats forwards to create scoring opportunities.

Kilkenny led by 0-4 to 0-1 early on but an Alan McCrabbe free, his second, and a good David Treacy point kept Dublin in touch in an entertaining game in front of 29,427, most of whom wearing the sky-blue jersey.

Then the Cats struck for the their first goal when under pressure and on his knees, Richie Power hand-passed the ball into the open for Comerford to pick up in his stride and race through the defense before kicking to the right side of the net for a fine goal.

The excellent McCrabbe replied with a free but points from the in-form Comerford (2) and Eoin Larkin (2) sent Kilkenny seven clear. The Cats were now well on top and it looked as if they would pull away further but Dublin fought back brilliantly with three points from McCrabbe (1f, 1 '65') and a beauty from Kevin Flynn out on the wing.

In injury time, Kilkenny should have scored another goal after a Henry Shefflin cross into the danger zone, ran on to the unmarked Comerford but he blasted over the bar.

Shefflin then added another free to leave the scores 1-10 to 0-7 in favour of the All Ireland champions at half time.

Dublin were by means intimidated by Kilkenny and kept the pressure as on the restart they fired over a further three points without reply to leave just a goal between the sides.

The excellent Martin Comerford, who hadn't scored in last September's All Ireland and in the recent Galway game, showed his scoring drought was at an end when he stretched the gap to four.

Shefflin and McCrabbe swapped scores before Kilkenny pushed again with the former lofting a free, while the brilliant Tommy Walsh added a superb effort and another from Aidan Fogarty saw the margin at six once more.

But Dublin wouldn't go away and, cheered on by the large Dubin support on Hill 16, they hit a further three points, while Derek Lyng raised a white flag for Kilkenny in-between.

Then Kilkenny struck for the killer blow when influential midfielder, Michael Rice went on a solo run from the middle of the field.

He delivered a perfect hand pass to Comerford who continued goalbound and beat keeper, Gary Maguire with a deft flick to the net.

Seven points down with a quarter remaining Dublin kept battling on as McCrabbe saw a goal effort deflected over the bar by Kilkenny goalkeeper, PJ Ryan.

TJ Reid force a late save from Maguire but a pull back on Henry Shefflin as he went for the rebound resulted in a penalty which he took but the Dublin keeper was equal to the task with a fine save.

Kilkenny held out under constant Dublin pressure to the final whistle in a game where the more experienced Cats goals made all the difference.

Dublin will take great encouragement from this spirited performance and should they repeat Sunday's form in the All Ireland quarterfinal they will be more than a match for most.

The legend that is Kilkenny continues. They are in the semi-final and only two games away from a historic four-in-a-row. With injured players due to return expect their efforts to greatly intensify from here on in.

Teams & Scorers:
Kilkenny: PJ Ryan; M Kavanagh, JJ Delaney, J Tyrrell; T Walsh (0-1), J Tennyson, J Dalton; D Lyng (0-2), M Rice (0-1); H Shefflin (0-6, 6f), M Comerford (2-4), E Larkin (0-2); E Brennan (0-1), R Power, A Fogarty (0-1). Subs: TJ Reid for Power (51 mins), J Fitzpatrick for Brennan (62)
Dublin: G Maguire; N Corcoran, T Brady, O Gough; S Hiney (capt), J Boland (0-1), M Carton; J McCaffrey, A McCrabbe (0-12, 0-7f, 1 '65', 1sdl); S Durkin, L Ryan, K Flynn (0-1); D O'Callaghan (0-1), L Rushe, D Treacy (0-3). Subs: S Lambert for Flynn and D Curtin for Durkin (50 mins), D Sweeney for Ryan (57), P Carton for Rushe and R O'Carroll for McCrabbe (64)
Referee: Johnny Ryan (Tipperary)